Author: Rachel Maddow

Trade Breakthrough Tied to Russian Oil President Donald Trump said he plans to cut tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, down from 25%, after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil. Trump said the deal also includes India lowering import taxes on U.S. products to zero and committing to buy $500 billion worth of American goods. India has been a major buyer of discounted Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a move Washington argues has helped bankroll Moscow’s war effort. Trump has repeatedly pressed New Delhi to end those purchases, framing the issue…

President Donald Trump said the United States has begun engaging with Cuban leaders, even as his administration intensifies economic pressure on the island by cutting off critical oil supplies. Speaking to reporters Saturday night while flying to Florida, Trump offered few specifics about the outreach, saying only, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.” Oil Restrictions Used as Leverage The comments follow a series of recent moves aimed at tightening Cuba’s access to energy. The Trump administration has cut off oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, steps the president suggested would push Havana toward negotiations. Earlier this week, Trump signed an…

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a blunt warning to member states, saying the organisation could face a serious cash shortfall within months unless countries pay what they owe. Speaking on Friday, Guterres said the UN’s finances are under severe strain and could be exhausted by July, putting essential operations and programmes at risk. Late Payments Push UN to the Edge Guterres said the UN’s financial troubles stem from a long-running problem: some countries fail to pay their mandatory contributions in full, while others delay payments for months. As a result, the organisation has been forced to impose hiring…

Hong Kong’s government has pushed back strongly against a ruling by Panama’s Supreme Court that voided a long-standing concession allowing CK Hutchison to operate ports at both ends of the Panama Canal, calling the move unacceptable and harmful to business confidence. The decision, handed down late Thursday, declared the concession unconstitutional following an audit by Panama’s comptroller that alleged irregularities in a 25-year extension approved in 2021. Hong Kong Condemns the Ruling In a statement released Friday, the Hong Kong government said it “strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects” the court’s decision. It warned against the use of coercive or…

How banned goods quietly reach Moscow Russia has been using a logistics setup in Berlin to sidestep European Union sanctions, quietly sending restricted goods to Moscow through international mail channels that face lighter oversight, according to an investigation by German newspaper Bild. Test shipments fitted with GPS trackers and filled with sanctioned items reportedly passed through a logistics warehouse near Berlin Brandenburg Airport without interference. From there, the parcels were forwarded through Poland and Belarus before reaching Russia. The investigation found that the operation relied on shipping labels from Uzbekistan’s state postal service, despite the fact that Germany’s Federal Network…

Economy Shows Strength, Cuts Put on Hold The US Federal Reserve decided on Wednesday to keep interest rates unchanged, pressing pause after cutting rates three times last year. The benchmark rate remains at around 3.6%, a move that reflects growing confidence in the health of the economy. In its statement, the Fed said the labour market appears to have stabilised and described economic growth as “solid,” an upgrade from last month’s more reserved assessment. With hiring holding up and no clear signs of economic strain, officials see little urgency to push borrowing costs lower just yet. Inflation Still the Sticking…

From Lab Experiments to Real-World Power European lawmakers are calling on the EU to take nuclear fusion seriously as a future source of electricity, arguing that the technology has moved beyond theory and deserves clear political and regulatory backing. In a declaration released this week, members of the European People’s Party said fusion energy could play a key role in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness—if investors are given the certainty they need. The appeal was made during a public hearing in the European Parliament, where MEPs stressed the need for a predictable legal framework. With fusion projects expected to cost billions, lawmakers…

Eight Countries Get Green Light Under SAFE Programme The European Commission has approved defence investment plans from eight EU countries under a major new loan scheme designed to strengthen Europe’s military readiness. Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Finland will have access to a combined €74 billion through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, part of the EU’s wider Readiness 2030 strategy. Poland alone accounts for €43.7 billion of the total. SAFE is one of the flagship initiatives aimed at dramatically boosting defence spending before the end of the decade, as intelligence agencies warn that Russia could…

The World Bank Group has opened its first-ever office in Doha, a move that signals a deeper partnership with Qatar and highlights the country’s growing role in global development and finance. The office was officially inaugurated on Sunday and represents a new stage of cooperation between the World Bank Group and Qatari institutions. It will focus on development financing, mobilising private investment and supporting countries affected by fragility and conflict. The office is hosted at the headquarters of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), working closely with the Ministry of Finance. Speaking at the opening ceremony, World Bank Group President…

Peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are continuing this weekend in Abu Dhabi, bringing together representatives from the United States, Ukraine and Russia. The talks come nearly four years into the war and mark an unusual moment of direct, parallel engagement among all three sides. Donbas at the Heart of the Discussions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region is a central focus of the talks. He described the meetings as significant, noting that such trilateral discussions have been rare since the invasion began. In a video message, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian…